The contest, which this year asked students to reflect on the meaning
of democracy and its implications for their own roles as citizens, is
designed to provide practical experience in writing essays that are
strong and concise theres a strict time limit of two to four minutes
and in public speaking, audio recording and editing.
For Rachel Sawicki, whose essay Democracy for Minorities was the
first-place winner, recording and editing audio stories was nothing new.
The junior communication and English
major has been a sports reporter for campus radio station WVUD and held
an internship and part-time position with Delaware Public Media.
Still, she said, Being in the class COMM329, Broadcast News Writing,
was helpful throughout the process of creating her essay. She credited
the instructor, Nancy Karibjanian, who is a veteran broadcast
journalist and director of the CPC, with encouraging students to enter
the contest and further develop the skills they were learning in the
classroom.
Sawickis essay traced her own journey from taking democratic values
for granted in the United States to learning about how minority groups
are treated in authoritarian countries. The realization, she said, made
her aware of the importance of defending those values in America as
well.
Other students whose essays were recognized by the Speak Up judges also called the contest a valuable learning experience.
I was a little concerned about delivery and structure as she began
the project, said Chloe Tullman, whose essay questioning whether mass
media technology is hurting our democracy won an honorable mention.
Luckily, with giving myself plenty of time to revise, I was able to
incorporate most of the elements that we learned to make a good audio
essay. My classes with Professor Karibjanian absolutely helped me
prepare for this, both from a writing/content standpoint, and a
technical standpoint.
Both Tullman and Marin Imhoff, who also received an honorable
mention, said the contest also helped them realize the importance of
stepping outside their comfort zone to try something new. Overcoming a
bit of stage fright as she started recording, Imhoff said she just
focused on conveying her personal feelings about her role as a citizen
on Election Day.
I was already a journalism minor prior to entering this contest, and
this experience only solidified my dream to work in journalism, she
said.
More about the contest
Winners of the Speak Up contest, and their essay titles, were: First
place, Rachel Sawicki, Democracy for Minorities; second place, Julia
Mack, 2008; third place, Tara Lennon, honors student, Dinner Plate
Democracy; and honorable mentions, Marin Imhoff, If I Could; Emma
Scholes, Ripple Effect; and Chloe Tullman, Online Shopping Turns
Evil.
Commendations were awarded to finalists Kristine Castoria, Masked
Oligarchy, Madeline Ehrlich, honors, Democracy Matters, Holly Hutton,
Surfing Perspective, and Chloe La Motta, Divided US.
To listen to any of the selected essays, visit this website.
The Speak Up program is supported by the University Writing Center; UD Library, Museums and Press; Delaware Public Media; College of Arts and Sciences journalism program; Department of Communication; WVUD Radio; and the University Provost.
10 years of leadership in political communication
The nonpartisan, interdisciplinary Center for Political Communication
at UD, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, uses
academic research to foster student learning and broad community
engagement.
Its numerous initiatives include the annual National Agenda series,
which brings prominent speakers to campus and offers students the
opportunity to interact with them; televised Delaware Debates with
statewide candidates during election years; and various projects in
which students are encouraged to explore the value of civic engagement.
The center sponsors polls and affiliated faculty research projects,
which are recognized nationally in academic journals and media
publications.
Next: Voices of UD
On April 20, the CPC launched Voices of UD: Connecting the UD
Community, which invites everyone in the University community to submit
brief audio or visual recordings reflecting on some of the ways in
which the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting them. Details are
available here.
Article by Ann Manser; illustration by Center for Political Communication staff; photo by Kevin Quinlan
Published April 30, 2020